Task Force Announces Major Gift from Ballmer Group, New Members

During Utah Convening, National Housing Crisis Task Force Announces Major Gift from Ballmer Group, Addition of New Task Force Members

Partnership will fund on-the-ground development of innovative housing solutions and 21st century housing agenda to address affordability and availability nationwide

Salt Lake City, UTAH  – During a convening of the National Housing Crisis Task Force in Salt Lake City, Utah on October 30, Task Force Co-Chair Governor Spencer Cox announced the Ballmer Group has made a transformational grant to the National Housing Crisis Task Force to advance cross-cutting solutions to America’s housing crisis. The partnership will enable the Task Force to expand its bipartisan policy development work and implementation of evidence-based strategies to increase housing supply and affordability across the country.

In addition to Ballmer Group, Utah-based Ivory Innovations, Gail Miller and the Larry H. Miller Family Foundation, and Gardner Company all pledged generous contributions to the Task Force during the Salt Lake City convening.

“Utah has embarked on a vital mission to build 35,000 starter homes across the state by 2028, bolstered by the policies and connections created by the bipartisan National Crisis Housing Task Force,” said Utah Governor Spencer Cox.  “We thank Ballmer Group for helping the Task Force craft solutions we can use here in Utah and in communities large and small across the country.”

The Task Force has already demonstrated impact, including through the release of two major publications: a State and Local Housing Action Plan highlighting 15 actionable tools for leaders to address the housing crisis across land use, capital, construction, regulation and policy, and governance, and a Federal Housing Policy Agenda with 40 detailed policy recommendations for federal action. 

These publications represent the most promising and scalable housing solutions from cities and states across the country, as well as with the federal government. With this new funding, the organization will work directly with states, cities, and cross sector leaders to implement the tools highlighted in the Action Plan and to build an agenda for key reforms that will help transform America’s housing system. 

Ballmer Group’s investment will enable the National Housing Crisis Task Force to:

• Accelerate Policy Innovation: Work with the public and private sectors to increase housing production by doing things differently
• Spread Proven Models: Identify and replicate proven housing solutions in communities nationwide
• Strengthen Cross-Sector Collaboration: Build partnerships between government, private sector, and nonprofit organizations to help get more homes online more quickly
• Develop a 21st Century Housing Agenda for America:  Partner with a range of thought leaders and experts to chart the course for a new system of production and preservation of housing for America

“Addressing America’s housing crisis will require new thinking, bold actions, long-term investments, and careful coordination at all levels of government – federal, state, and local,” said John Griffith, Executive Director of Strategy and Operations and National Housing at Ballmer Group. “We are proud to support the Task Force as it develops practical policy solutions that meet the scale of the challenge.”

“Cleveland is proud to be a national leader in advancing innovative, equitable housing solutions. Through our Cleveland ERA economic development agenda, we are focused on building a diverse and sustainable housing ecosystem that meets the needs of all our residents, from longtime homeowners to first-time renters,” said Cleveland Mayor Justin M. Bibb. “But this work cannot happen in isolation. That’s why we are so grateful for Ballmer Group’s investment, which allows us to scale efforts, strengthen partnerships, and continue delivering real results. I look forward to sharing Cleveland’s approach with national policymakers and working with the Task Force to elevate strategies that benefit communities across the country.”

“Housing is not a democratic or republican issue, but is one that confronts every community across the country and that continues to require urgent action,” said Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens.  “Atlanta is proud to be a cutting-edge leader in delivering creative housing funding, policy and construction solutions, and the continued success of the Task Force means the continued success of Atlanta.”

America’s housing crisis has reached a tipping point in communities across the country. The United States faces a national housing shortage of more than two million homes, with some cities and neighborhoods facing even more severe shortages compared to population growth. Since 2019, home prices have jumped over 50%  and new homebuying is at 30-year lows. The costs to own and operate housing are at new highs, while more families than ever are spending more than 30% of their income on housing. This crisis has left more people feeling the cost of housing, which requires new thinking and bold new action to fix. 

“Fifth Third is proud to be a leader in growing access to housing through our place-based economic development approach. We have seen firsthand how impactful strategic partnerships – private, public, and philanthropic – can be in improving economic mobility for all,” said Susan Thomas, president of the Fifth Third Community Development Corporation. “This generous gift from Ballmer Group will help the Task Force expand our cross-sector approach and bring more experts to the table to help build more homes for Americans.”

Colin Higgins, Executive Director of the Task Force, also announced the addition of new Task Force members, including:

• Shaina Doar | Managing Director, Onward Ventures Co
• Solomon Greene | Executive Director, Land and Communities, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
• Alecia Hill | Vice President – Housing Preservation Investments, FCP
• Josh Humphries | Senior Advisor to the President, California Community Foundation
• Ben Metcalf | Managing Director, Terner Center for Housing Innovation at UCBerkeley and CEO, Terner Labs
• Ralph Perrey | Executive Director, Tennessee Housing Development Agency
• Dennis Shea | Executive Vice President and Chair, J. Ronald Terwilliger Center for Housing Policy, Bipartisan Policy Center
• Aaron Thomas | Senior Managing Director, Standard Communities

“With a shortage of more than two million homes across the country and more families spending more of their paychecks on their homes than ever, we must urgently find new ways to address the nation’s housing crisis,” said Colin Higgins, Executive Director of the National Housing Crisis Task Force. “With Ballmer Group’s generous support and the addition of our new Task Force members, our bipartisan coalition will expand our work to implement our State and Local Housing Action Plan and set a bold new vision for America’s housing, ultimately helping to bring new homes that people can afford to the market.”